Switzerland. Geneva. Easter at the Russian Church. The church is a lovely 19th-century Russian Orthodox church and designed in a Byzantine Moscovite style. The church’s full name is Cathédrale de l'Exaltation de la Sainte Croix. After midnight on the night of Easter Sunday, the Archbishop, priests, deacons and congregation go in a procession around the church, holding lit candles, chanting: By Thy Resurrection O Christ our savior, the angels in Heaven sing, enable us who are on Earth, to glorify thee in purity of heart. This procession reenacts the journey of the Myrrhbearers to the Tomb of Jesus "very early in the morning". After circling around the church once, the procession halts in front of the church's closed doors which represent the sealed tomb. The congregation with women, men and children, all with candles in hands. The women wear a scarf on their heads. The nighttime liturgy is a blessing of Easter fire with candles and the celebration of the Easter Proclamation of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion.The Russian church serves not only the Russian community but also Bulgarians, Serbs, Coptic Christians and other Orthodox worshippers who do not have their own church in Geneva. 16.04.17 © 2017 Didier Ruef